Mick Wallace (Wexford, Independent)
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125. To ask the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs the measures he is taking to reduce the number of children who are in care but who have not yet received a written care plan, which according to the advocacy group, Empowering People in Care, currently stands at 604; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3329/16]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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A care plan for each child who is received into care is required under the Child Care Regulations, 1995. The regulations stipulate that all care plans are to be reviewed and updated on a regular basis and sets out the frequency for these reviews to take place. A review of the care planned for a child under the Child Care Act 1991 is a process to monitor and review the progress of the plan and to update it if required. A key consideration for the social worker is to consult with the child, family members, foster carers, and other people involved with the child to ensure that his or her needs are being met and that the care being provided is optimal.

At the end of October 2015, there were 6,331 children in care in Ireland. The Child and Family Agency, Tusla, reported that over 90% (5,727) of these children had a written care plan with 604 (9.5%) of children in care without a care plan. This figure includes children waiting for their first official care plan to be agreed, and those children whose care plan has not been reviewed/signed off within the regulatory dates. Considerable progress has been made in decreasing the numbers of children in care without a care plan which stood at 855 (13.2%) at the end of January 2014.

It is known that outcomes for children in care are better when there is evidence of a careful assessment, thoughtful planning and proactive case management. Tusla is working to improve this figure and to ensure all children in care have a care plan. The increased budget for Tusla for 2016 should result in an increase in the number of written care plans.